The AAA Vacation & Travel Expo

When the weather is cold outside, instead of daydreaming about the sun and summer, we jumped in the car and headed downtown to this years Vacation Travel Expo sponsored by AAA.

My son I enjoy being weekend warriors, exploring our local world and trying new things.  We are always looking for one tank gas trips and family and cost-friendly adventures.  So what a great way to get some good ideas for adventures and learn more about our great state in one place … the Vacation Travel Expo.

First up on the vendor stop was all about the Ohio Ramblin Road Trip from Logan, Union and Champaign counties.  This is all about getting off the beaten path and travel back in time. Such fun includes discovering covered bridges and the Big Darby Scenic By-Way.

I can certainly see some time travel in our future.

And I especially loved the mannequin.  She was saying OhiO. {So I took her picture}.

We also love our Metro Parks. We are often caught grabbing a quick snack and the binoculars and heading out to one of our favorite parks.  This year we hope to visit a few others for their winter hikes series, like Battelle Darby Creek, Prairie Oaks and Three Creeks.

We do love the great outdoors.  Thanks Metro Parks for your part in our fun.

Among some of the other exhibitors that caught my kiddos attention was the flying machine sponsored by the Waco Air Museum in Troy Ohio.

Yep …. I know we will be going back for a visit.

Another chock full of fun and information was the Experience Columbus booth.  We stopped to say hello and to enjoy the view of the beautiful downtown skyline.

To keep up with all that Columbus has to Experience, be sure to check them out as well.

Another one of our favorite one tank road trips we take often is the one to visit The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio.  Not only is there animal conservation, education, horseback and fishing safaris, but now they offer a Zipline adventure.  Animals gone wild … Oh yea, we will be back.

We worked our way through the vendors and tried to take in all their was to see.  We found that not only were there great exhibitors from around the state but also great exhibitors from out of state as well.

We stopped by the Anchorage Alaska tour and travel booth.  This is one destinations we would love to visit and see the moose and glaciers and bears oh my.

As we continued on our stroll, we heard beautiful music.  Getting closer, we found ourselves at the booth of Virginia (city of Galax to be exact).

These ladies were just so pleasant and were happy to pose for a picture.  They are from the Blueridge Mountains playing from the Bluegrass tradition with the Loose Strings Band.  Just pop over to their site and listen a bit and I’m sure you will agree.

Our last stop before heading home {in the frigid cold}, the shells and beach chair pulled us in.  I love the beach … and the sun at the beach and I love to walk in warm sand that is at the beach. {Did I mention I love the beach and the sun?}.  I do!

Funny how I could hear the waves crashing on shore and smell the salty air and feel the warm sun upon my face while visiting the Ft. Myers and Sanibel booth.  {Oh… maybe it was the booth next door with the wave crash video on auto play}.

Okay… where was I?  Yes, here is Ohio attending the AAA Vacation Travel Expo.  It was great to get out of the house and cold weather and head to the hot and hoping vacation show.  I so have my bags packed and am ready to go.

What about you?  Where will you be traveling this year?

And yes, I think a vacation to Florida is in my future.